Genetic assessment of silique length in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) using generation mean analysis and RAPD markers

Information of inheritance and gene action for silique length is very useful in rapeseed breeding program for development of cultivars with longer silique and incorporating this trait to the new improved cultivars for increasing grain yield. To study the heritability of silique length، an experiment was conducted during 2006- 2008 at the University of Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences of Sari، Iran. Data collected from the three cultivar of rapeseed parents; Foseto، Option 500، Goliath as well as F1، F2 and F3 generations of their crosses. Genetic inheritance of silique length was estimated using generation mean analysis. Results indicated that silique length in rapeseed was mainly controlled by dominant gene effects، and dominant × dominant epistatic was also effective in controlling of silique length. Two RAPD markers (UBC_83، UBC_248) also identified that were associated with silique length، and produced 470bp band by (UBC_83) and 680bp band by (UBC_248). Therefore، these two markers could be used in the breeding programs of rapeseed for identification of genotypes and lines with long siliques to shorten the breeding cycle.